Chapter 54 He quickly kicked Zhou Pingchuan under the table.
Although he was his nephew's fiancé, Zhou Pingchuan had no intention of communicating with Xia Mingzhao, nor did he respond to his smile; he simply turned back.
Xia Mingzhao is beautiful and carries the aura of a beautiful, strong, and tragic "fallen family". She has been quite popular since childhood and has countless suitors.
When he first met someone who treated him coldly, he pursed his lips and felt a strange sense of loss.
I've always heard that the head of the Zhou family is arrogant and haughty, and I doubt he'd ever give anyone a pleasant look.
Inside the restaurant, all the dishes were ready. Xia Dongbo gestured to the head of the table, saying, "Mr. Zhou, please. Let's eat first, so we don't miss the best time to enjoy the ingredients."
When guests arrive, the host should naturally sit in the seat of honor. Zhou Pingchuan declined a few times, but eventually sat down in the proper order.
To entertain the Zhou family, a prominent family, the Xia couple spared no expense, bringing out their treasured Burgundy wine. Zhou Pingchuan also showed great respect, responding to Xia Dongbo's toasts every time he raised his glass.
The dinner table is not a place to discuss business; the conversation naturally revolves around family and younger generations, including the couple's marriage.
“Pingchuan,” Xia Dongbo said, having gotten to know Zhou Pingchuan better, he stopped using the honorific title. “How have you been getting along with Mianmian lately? That kid’s got a wild streak. I just found out he went out to participate in some kind of program. He’s almost getting married, and he’s still showing his face in public. It’s really inappropriate.”
"You old chauvinist, don't assume everyone wants to be a virtuous wife and loving mother," Xia Mian said, pursing her lips.
Zhou Pingchuan sat right next to Xia Mian, observing all these subtle movements, and couldn't help but chuckle: "It's alright. Xia Mian and I have been seeing each other frequently lately. Not long ago, I..."
Perhaps feeling guilty, Xia Mian thought Zhou Pingchuan was going to bring up the matter of getting him out of prison, and she was so frightened that she dropped the shrimp she had just picked up. She quickly kicked Zhou Pingchuan under the table.
In late autumn in the north, the heating hadn't been turned on yet, making it the coldest time indoors. Xia Mian wore a pair of cream-colored ostrich feather slippers with a few long decorative feathers at the heel.
The sharp tip of a feather tickled Zhou Pingchuan's ankle, which was encased in his suit trousers, sending a shiver down his spine. Zhou Pingchuan frowned slightly but didn't move. His long legs, restrained and composed, remained in their original position under the table.
“I’ve already introduced Xia Mian to her wet nurse,” Zhou Pingchuan cleared his throat and continued.
Oh, so that's what it is.
If you don't hurry up and tell me, you scared me to death!
Xia Mian patted her chest, feeling dissatisfied, and then, using her leg that hadn't been pulled back, stepped on the other person's shoe tip again.
Handmade Oxford shoes, British style, naturally don't feel very comfortable to walk in. Xia Mian, afraid he wouldn't learn his lesson, increased the pressure slightly, rubbing and kneading them.
But he certainly wouldn't dare to use violence against the villainous boss, so the force he applied through his leather shoes was more like a playful tantrum than a punishment.
Aside from the dinner at the hotel, this was the first time the two had actually had physical contact. Zhou Pingchuan's legs tensed abruptly, and he glanced at him. A domesticated kitten can be a bit mischievous, but it depends on the occasion.
Unfortunately, Xia Mian, who was already feeling a bit wronged, interpreted this as a warning.
Do you think everyone has the right to be trampled on by me?!
Xia Mian withdrew her foot and simply ignored him.
After the meal, it was time for the family heads to discuss serious matters. They moved to the tea room, perhaps intending for their son to take over the family business. Xia Dongbo specifically asked Xia Mingzhao to accompany them. As the other party in the upcoming marriage agreement, Xia Mian naturally had to accompany them as well.
He was keen on eating, drinking, and having fun, and had never been interested in business. His parents spoiled him and, realizing he wasn't cut out for business, stopped pressuring him to take over the family business. So Xia Mian was completely clueless about business, and after having a few drinks, he was drowsy listening to them.
He was so asleep he was practically drooling when someone across from him suddenly called out, "Mianmian, show Pingchuan around your room."
Huh? Why do we need to visit his room? Xia Mian was still half asleep, but obediently led the way.
Zhou Pingchuan followed him up to the second floor. The Xia family didn't have an indoor elevator; they had to use the stairs. The antler cane tapped on the ground, making a "thump-thump" sound. This only confused Xia Mian more.
Once inside the room, he simply collapsed onto the bed, saying weakly, "Third Master, please make yourself at home."
Anyway, he hasn't been here long, and his walk-in closet isn't even full yet, so there's nothing he shouldn't have.
...There really isn't anything shameful about it, is there? Xia Mian buried her head in the pillow, lost in thought.
Leading the guest to the room and then going to sleep himself was truly outrageous, but when applied to Xia Mian, Zhou Pingchuan found it perfectly normal. He didn't call him and actually started to tour the room by himself.
Given Xia Mian's personality, he had expected the room to be filled with all sorts of extravagant items, but it was surprisingly clean and tidy. He wondered if it had anything to do with Xia Mian having just been recognized and returned to the Xia family.
The dressing room is connected to the washroom. After visiting the dressing room, we arrived at the bathroom door.
Summer sprang to her feet as if she had risen from the dead.
Damn! He suddenly remembered that there really were some shady things in the bathroom!
Xia Mian didn't even have time to put on slippers before running barefoot over. Unfortunately, Zhou Pingchuan had already seen everything, both what he should and shouldn't have seen.
—On the bathroom's underwear washing machine, there were two men's underwear. They were white briefs, made of pure cotton, with no special patterns, and both the waist and... the size in a certain place seemed to be more than a size smaller than his.
Zhou Pingchuan's gaze lingered on that spot for a second when a certain kitten suddenly jumped out from behind, yanked off the two pairs of underwear as if electrocuted, and hid them behind its back: "Are you crazy? What are you looking at!"
"You're the one who told me to look at it freely."
“...But you can’t look at my underwear, you pervert, pervert, pervert…” Xia Mian said as she kicked him.
Perhaps because he wasn't wearing shoes, he kicked even harder this time, creasing his crisp, well-fitting suit trousers.
At first, Zhou Pingchuan silently endured it, but later, he realized that the other party was going to keep going on and on, so he simply reached out and grabbed his ankle the next time he lifted his foot.
"Stop," Zhou Pingchuan commanded.
His deep voice was incredibly intimidating, even the usually spoiled Xia Mian was a little scared. She pretended to continue kicking, but actually only moved a couple of times: "Stop, let me go!"
When he grabbed his ankle, Zhou Pingchuan didn't feel anything. But after rubbing the delicate, warm skin against his hand a couple of times, Zhou Pingchuan suddenly felt a bit dry in his palm.
Thinking of that pure white pair of underwear, Zhou Pingchuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he abruptly released his grip.
With her ankles losing support, Xia Mian staggered two steps.
If you were embarrassed and annoyed before, now you feel wronged.
"What are you doing?" Xia Mian said angrily, "Coming to the Xia family to bully me, don't go too far!"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have looked at your underwear."
It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it, because once it was, Xia Mian would get angry again, with a hint of inexplicable embarrassment: "Don't mention underwear!"
“Okay, let’s not talk about it.” Zhou Pingchuan agreed readily.
Yes, Zhou Pingchuan is a man of his word. Or rather, he doesn't really care much about himself.
"...Whatever you want." Xia Mian suddenly deflated.
From ignoring him when he entered the Xia family home, to making small moves at the dinner table, and now to his reaction, how could Zhou Pingchuan not see that he was angry with him: "Xia Mian, what did I do to offend you? Tell me."
Why should I tell you?
Zhou Pingchuan tapped his phone: "I need to apologize."
That means he can send money.
Xia Mian was at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated. After that moment, he suddenly asked, "Third Master, what would you do if one day you fell from a high position into the mud?"
Zhou Pingchuan has been attending summits in Europe recently and hasn't been paying much attention to things back home, but you can tell from his expression that he's encountered some trouble.
"I don't care about being stuck in a quagmire," Zhou Pingchuan said calmly. "I am my own support."
Xia Mian looked at Zhou Pingchuan, and at this moment, she finally had the clearest understanding of this man's strength.
He stood barefoot, frozen in place for a long time, as if he knew what he had to do.
Fate took a sudden turn, transforming him from a pampered young master who had everything done for him into cannon fodder, inevitably leaving him feeling lost and melancholic. He didn't blame himself for his unstable inner self, but as Zhou Pingchuan said, at this stage, he could only rely on himself.
He has to stand up for himself.
"Thank you, Third Master," Xia Mian smiled, her clean face glowing. "One day... I will also become my own support."
He's the strongest trainee, so he can rely on himself.
Who! Afraid! Who!
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